Senators Launch New Cybersecurity Caucus

The Senate Cybersecurity Caucus will educate politicians and their staffs on protecting the country from digital dangers.

A new bipartisan Senate Cybersecurity Caucus will help lawmakers in the world's greatest deliberative body keep up-to-date and informed on online security

Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and Mark Warner, D-Va., announced the formation of the the caucus this week.

It will analyze the cybersecurity issues facing national security and the economy, according to a statement from Warner. Senators and their staff will also be connected to cyber experts and discussions through the caucus.

“We need a grand strategy to combat positively identified bad actors, and that requires a broad policy response that is adaptable to technological developments and the ever-changing cyber field,” Gardner said in a statement.

The two senators announced the caucus at an American Enterprise Institute event on the future of cybersecurity. AEI also released a report on the topic.

Gardner and Warner worked together last year to tackle the issue as well, backing, along with Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas in the House, a bill to create a National Commission on Security and Technology Challenges. The commission would gather stakeholders to make recommendations on balancing digital security and privacy, but the bill has stalled out so far.

For now, the caucus' launch shows the continued work Congress can do, Warner said.

“Cybersecurity is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation, and both the private and the public sector need to be better prepared to address the escalating threat from cyberattacks,” Warner said. “However, the attack surface is rapidly expanding, and the cyber threat is a systemic one.”